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Attitudes

Attitudes within groups

Attitudes towards groups

Attitudes towards



Sexual attitudes are attitudes, opinions and beliefs regarding sexual matters such as Sexual development, human sexual behavior, sexual orientation and sexual risk taking.


Measurement[]

Implicit Association Test[]

The Implicit Association Test is a testing method designed by Anthony Greenwald and others it measures the associative strength between categories (e.g. Bug, Flower) and attributes (e.g. Bad, Good) by having participants rapidly classify stimuli that represent the categories and attributes of interest on a computer.[1] During four of the seven trial blocks in an IAT, categories and attributes share a response key (e.g. Bug or Bad, Flower or Good), with the underlying assumption being that participant response times will be quicker when the category and attribute are more closely associated [1].

As a measure of implicit attitudes it has started to be used as a way of countering biases towards socially accepted responses[2] and most of the research has focused on attitudes towards condom use, and attitudes towards gay and lesbian people [1]. In one study, researchers found that while explicit attitudes towards gays and lesbians were generally positive, implicit attitudes towards gay men were negative, as were men's implicit attitudes towards lesbians [3] Additionally, the IAT has been found to be extremely effective at predicting the sexual orientation of gay and heterosexual men.[4] Finally, research comparing heterosexual men and women found that heterosexual women harbor more negative explicit and implicit attitudes towards sex than males.[2]


See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lane, K.A., Banaji, M.R., Nosek, B.A., & Greenwald, A.G. (2007). Understanding and using the Implicit Associating Test: IV. What we know (so far) about the method (Pp. 59-102). In B. Wittenbrink & N.S. Schwarz (Eds.). Implicit measures of attitudes: Procedures and controversies. New York: Guillford Press.
  2. 2.0 2.1 Geer, J.H. & Robertson, G.G. (2005). Implicit attitudes in sexuality: Gender differences. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34(6), 671-677
  3. Steffens, M.C. (2005). Implicit and explicit attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. Journal of Homosexuality, 49(2), 39-66
  4. Snowden, R.J., Wichter, J., & Gray, N.S. (2008). Implicit and explicit measurements of sexual preferences in gay and heterosexual men: A comparison of Priming Techniques and the Implicit Association Test Archives of Sexual Behavior, 37, 558-565